You've Got My Number: Warm your heart this winter with this uplifting and deliciously romantic story!

by Angela Barton

  She turned to him and took hold of his hands. ‘Is Den here yet? I can’t wait to see how strong the resemblance is.’

  ‘I got a call and they’re running late. Bloody road works on the motorway.’

  ‘That’s a shame.’

  ‘At least I’ve been able to talk to several buyers without feeling guilty for ignoring the family. I’m sorry, I feel like I’m neglecting you but I have to dash again.’

  ‘I understand. It’s your big night. Go.’

  He squeezed her hands and left while she watched his silhouette leave the dance floor and disappear into the crowd once again.

  Chapter Forty-One

  Tess had spent some time chatting to Sean but he was entranced by Daniel’s paintings and had left her to take another look round the exhibition. It was nearly nine by the time Holly and Doug arrived. Tess saw Holly first, standing at the doorway scanning the interior of the marquee. She stood up and waved. Holly spotted her and waved back excitedly, beckoning to Doug, who was behind her. Holly grabbed his arm and half dragged him over towards Tess’s table.

  ‘Tess, you look amazing, you remind me of Audrey Hepburn in that dress.’

  ‘Thank you. I love yours,’ replied Tess, feeling the gold, sequinned mini dress.

  She turned to Doug. He was tall and wiry with short dark hair. ‘Hi, Doug. I’m glad you could make it.’

  ‘I couldn’t turn down my favourite shop assistant, could I?’ he said, winking at Holly.

  Holly grinned, then spoke in a voice that sounded distinctly like Minnie Mouse’s. ‘Doug, be an angel and get me a vodka and orange.’ She squeezed his cheek with her thumb and forefinger and gave his skin a small shake.

  ‘Do you want one?’ Doug asked Tess, seemingly unfazed by Holly’s actions.

  ‘No thanks. I need to keep a clear head so I can keep an eye on the buffet.’

  He disappeared towards the bar area.

  ‘What was all that about?’ asked Tess.

  ‘What?’

  ‘The voice and the cheek wobbling thing.’

  ‘It’s just our thing.’

  Tess sat back down and wondered if she and Daniel would have a thing. She gestured for Holly to sit down and spoke more quietly.

  ‘There was a bit of a hiccup with the food this morning.’

  ‘What sort of hiccup?’

  ‘Someone came in and ruined a lot of it.’

  ‘No!’

  Tess nodded.

  ‘Did they smash a window?’

  ‘No, there wasn’t any damage to my house. She used a key.’

  ‘She?’

  ‘Blake’s mother.’

  Holly leaned forwards. ‘You’re kidding me!’

  Tess pursed her lips and shook her head.

  ‘How do you know it was her? Did you catch her at it?’

  ‘My neighbour saw her unlock my door in the early hours. She must have used Blake’s keys. Thank goodness for Mrs Campbell’s insomnia or we’d have no proof.’

  ‘What an evil woman. Has she been arrested? God, I’d love to have seen her with handcuffs behind her back.’ Holly sniggered. ‘Good riddance to both of them, I say. You can move on now. How are you feeling?’

  ‘Now this evening’s finally arrived, I feel like my emotions are all over the place. I nearly bawled at a beautiful song earlier.’

  ‘You’re supposed to dance to them, not cry at them. Why are you so stressed? You’ve finished with Blake, your food turned out fabulously and you’re free to be with the man of yours and most other women’s dreams.’

  ‘I know. The madness will be over tomorrow and we can look forward to Christmas.’

  ‘You never know,’ whispered Holly, ‘you might be staying the night here, if you know what I mean.’ She nudged Tess playfully.

  Tess hadn’t told Holly that they’d already had unforgettable sex. She’d wanted to keep it private and hug that evening’s memories to herself for a while. It had been so wonderful that she didn’t want to spoil the memory by being asked probing questions about the mechanics of the deed. Thankfully, before she could reply, Doug returned to the table with their drinks. They talked for twenty minutes, discussing Joy’s earlier antics, The Blue Olive and Christmas. During a lull in the conversation, Tess realised she hadn’t seen Daniel for nearly an hour. She didn’t want to interrupt him, but thought she would wander back into the house just to catch a glimpse of him.

  ‘I think I’ll pop inside and get some dessert. I’ll be back in ten minutes.’ Tess left the marquee and walked along the archway of fairy lights, back into the exhibition room. There were sticky dots on several canvasses and framed paintings that indicated they’d been sold. Fantastic, she thought. He must be having a successful evening. She couldn’t see Daniel in the gallery, so she walked through to the dining room. There were lots of empty plates on the table; in fact all the savoury dishes had gone. She looked at the remaining desserts trying to decide what to have. There was the exotic fruit platter that had a selection of prepared fruit, chopped and ready to eat on skewers. The peach schnapps cake was disappearing fast and so was the chocolate truffle torte. Tess helped herself to a skewer of pineapple, mango and strawberries.

  ‘Hello. I’m told you’re the cook.’

  Tess turned to face a large lady of indeterminate years. She could have been an old looking fifty-something or a young looking seventy-something. She smelled strongly of musky perfume and wore thick make-up beneath a bouffant hair do. Expensive jewellery dangled from her neck and ears and she had the aura of titled gentry.

  ‘I did much of the catering, yes.’

  ‘How do you do,’ she replied, shaking Tess’s hand. It was an infuriating handshake where only her fingertips were offered. ‘Lovely food.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Tess hoped that that was the end of the conversation. She really wanted to find Daniel.

  ‘Do you cook for a living, or is it a little sideline business?’

  ‘This is the first time I’ve catered for so many. I usually help out at charity functions at The Royal Oak, but I work in town.’

  ‘Oh. What do you do?’

  ‘I work in a deli in Maddox Square.’

  ‘Hmm.’

  Tess felt the whoosh as she plummeted in estimation in the woman’s eyes.

  ‘How do you know Daniel?’ continued the lady. She snapped off a piece of icing from a cup cake and popped it into her mouth.

  ‘I haven’t known him long but we’ve become friends.’

  ‘Yes, it’s so easy to get along with Daniel, isn’t it? What a lovely man. If I was a few years younger…’

  More like a few decades, Tess thought ungallantly.

  ‘I bumped into him five minutes ago but he was in a bit of a tizz.’

  ‘Was he? Is he all right?’ asked Tess.

  ‘He will be when his lovely Dee Dee gets here. He’s been clock watching all evening waiting for her to arrive.’

  Tess swallowed hard. That same twisted knot of jealousy tightened in her stomach. Who was Dee Dee?

  The woman continued. ‘Yes. It’s lovely to see two people who are so close. They’re always on the telephone. They love each other so much and have been through such a lot together over the years.’

  ‘Years?’ Tess felt like she had lost the power of conversation and the ability to breathe.

  ‘Don’t look so worried, dear,’ said the woman, patting her hand. ‘He’ll be fine when she arrives and he can give her a big hug.’ She waved at an elderly man. ‘There you are, Cyril.’ She turned and left.

  Tess felt nauseous. She put her fruit back down. She was the cook. She was a helpful neighbour. She was a friend with benefits; something she’d hoped she wouldn’t become. Why had he never mentioned a woman called Dee Dee? Had he just been flirting over the last few months before things had got out of hand on the night of the fair? She felt her throat tighten as she fought back tears. She walked in a daze into the hall, stopping dead when she saw Daniel talking to another man at the bottom of the
stairs. She edged a little closer and hid behind the Christmas tree in order to listen. Tess caught the tail end of Daniel’s answer.

  ‘Okay, Mike. I’ll get in touch next week. Excuse me but I’ve left my mobile in my study and as I said, she’s not here and I’m worried. She’s my guest of honour.’

  ‘Sorry to have missed her. Give her my love,’ the man said.

  It seemed that everyone knew that Daniel and this Dee Dee woman were an item, except her. Tess heard Daniel running upstairs and with her heart racing so much that she felt dizzy, she followed him. She remembered the last time she’d climbed this staircase. They’d been together and the whole magical day was imprinted in her memory as a day to be treasured. It had been a sham. Tess stood outside his studio and listened.

  ‘Hi, where are you? It’s not the same without you here. Twenty minutes, that’s great. Yes of course you’re staying here the night. You’d be staying the week if I had my way. I’m looking forward to spending the day together tomorrow. Hurry up.’

  Tess felt bile rise into her throat and ran silently down the carpeted stairs into the toilet in the hall. She sat on the lid of the toilet for ten minutes. A few knocks on the door had disturbed her, but the guests had gone away. She stood up and looked in the mirror. Her make-up was ruined. Her mascara was smudged around her red swollen eyes and her nose was full of tears and mucous. She’d gone over a lot in her mind sitting in this little room. The friendship had only seemed so special to her, because as the woman had said, ‘it’s so easy to get along with Daniel’. He was nice to everyone. She’d misread the signs because she was vulnerable having been lied to and cheated on by Blake. As for having sex last week, they’d had fun at the fair, the opportunity had arisen and they’d taken it.

  She took her powder compact out of her bag and patched up her face as best she could. Taking a deep breath, she slowly opened the door and peeped outside. A few strangers wandered through the hall. She sidled out of the door, hurried through the house and back into the marquee, never looking up once. Tess looked for Holly. Her friend was sitting back at the table rubbing her feet and complaining.

  ‘Honestly, Doug, you’ve got two left feet, you clumsy oaf. Tess where have you been? Whatever’s the matter?’

  Tess felt the tears stinging her eyes again.

  ‘Doug, can you make yourself scarce for five minutes,’ asked Holly.

  Doug got up without a word and walked in the direction of the bar. Holly put her arm around Tess’s shoulders.

  ‘Tell me what’s happened?’

  ‘I’ve been such a fool. Again. I’ve just found out that Daniel’s in love with someone called Dee Dee.’ Tess searched for a tissue in her bag, wiped her eyes and blew her nose. ‘They’ve been seeing each other for years. He’s waiting for her to arrive and she’s staying the night.’

  Holly reached out and held her hands. ‘You’re kidding. Are you sure?’

  ‘I heard him with my own ears. They’re going to spend the day together tomorrow too.’ Tess sobbed into her soggy tissue and blew her nose again. ‘I’m leaving. I’m driving back to Mum’s for a few days. I’ll ring work on Monday. I’ve got a couple of days owed to me. I can’t stay and see them together, Holly. I’ve fallen in love with him and I can’t bear it.’

  Holly hugged her. ‘I’m so sorry. I’m going to give him a piece of my mind, leading you on like that.’

  ‘Not tonight. Let him enjoy his birthday and exhibition.’

  ‘You’re too nice, that’s your problem.’

  ‘Bye. I’ll ring you tomorrow.’

  ‘I can’t promise I won’t read him the riot act. This woman should know that he’s been leading you on.’

  Tess kissed Holly’s cheek. She had told her friend about the kiss that she and Daniel had shared on the big wheel, but was glad she’d kept their passionate evening a secret.

  ‘Bye.’

  ‘Bye. Please drive carefully.’

  Tess walked out of the marquee and turned to the right, away from the main path that led into the gallery. She trudged through muddy grass, her heels sinking into the soft wet ground. One shoe got stuck in the soggy lawn, making her step into the brown sticky mud with her bare foot. She picked up her shoe and continued to walk around the side of the huge building, limping with one shoe on and one shoe in her hand. A handful of security lights lit her way until she found herself at the front of the house. A few people mingled around the front door, smoking and laughing. The drive was full of sharp gravel, but Tess couldn’t wear her ruined shoe, so she painfully hobbled across the width of the path and hid among the trees in the front garden.

  Just as she was about to make her way through the trees and towards the gate, she saw Daniel run out of the front door. He’d taken off his jacket and he was grinning as he ran down the drive, his white shirt billowing in the breeze. A figure ran towards him from the opposite direction.

  A woman.

  Tess watched as they ran into each other’s arms and Daniel twirled her around in his embrace. So, Dee Dee had arrived and Daniel was happy on his birthday.

  A burst of fireworks lit up the navy sky. Tess looked up to where a chrysanthemum of vibrant colours flashed and crackled above her head. Anger at Daniel’s double standards and pride at his achievements, fought each other for space in her thoughts. At least something positive had come out of this friendship, she thought, bitterly. At least he was over his firework phobia.

  Tess noticed that the woman and Daniel were now holding hands and looking skywards. Daniel leaned towards her and whispered something in her ear before they both ran in through the front door. The last of the smokers also made their way round to the back garden, in order to get a better view of the magnificent display.

  A man ran down the drive holding hands with two small boys, all three of them laughing and looking into the exploding sky. Tess could hear the distant ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ from the guests as she disappeared out of the front gates.

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Daniel was looking for Tess. He’d waited so long to introduce her to his sister, and now he couldn’t find her. He scanned the upturned faces of the crowd having searched the rooms inside. He’d really wanted to watch the fireworks with the two most important women in his life. His arm was loosely draped around his sister’s shoulders. She looked so happy. He looked among the crowd for Tess once again, and caught sight of Holly. She was staring at him, unsmiling. He waved but she looked away instead of returning his wave. Perhaps she hadn’t seen him in the shadows. When he looked back, she was pushing her way through the crowd towards him. She walked up to him with her arms folded.

  ‘Hi, Holly. I’ve been looking for Tess. Have you seen her?’ he asked.

  ‘You can stop pretending.’

  Daniel frowned. ‘Is everything all right?’

  ‘Don’t give me that routine. Tess knows what’s going on and thankfully she found out before she got in too deep.’

  ‘I’m sorry?’

  ‘You should be.’

  ‘Seriously, Holly. I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

  ‘I just wanted to tell you that I think you’re a fake opportunist,’ she said. ‘Look at you with your arm around her.’ She looked at Denise then back to Daniel. ‘You know what they call men like you? Players. You should be ashamed of yourself and I think it’s only fair to tell you,’ she said, turning back to Denise, ‘that your boyfriend has been flirting with and kissing my best friend. She’s fallen in love with him and now he’s broken her heart.’

  ‘My boyfriend?’ Denise laughed.

  ‘Not if you had any sense,’ said Holly.

  Daniel felt confused, but kept replaying in his mind what Holly had said about Tess having fallen in love with him.

  ‘Hailey—’ said Denise.

  ‘Holly,’ corrected Holly.

  ‘Sorry, Holly. I think you’ve got your wires mixed up.’

  ‘Is your name Dee Dee?’ asked Holly.

  ‘Yes, some people cal
l me that.’

  At that moment, Sean, Daniel’s brother-in-law and nephews joined them.

  ‘There you are, Den,’ said Simon, kissing Denise’s cheek. He extended his arm to Daniel. ‘It’s so good to see you. I’ve just been chatting with Sean who tells me you went to school together. It’s great to finally get here. Den has been crossing off the days, haven’t you, darling?’

  Daniel shook his brother-in-law’s proffered hand. ‘It’s good to see you too. I’ll get you a drink but we’re just sorting out a little problem first.’

  ‘What problem?’

  Daniel scratched his temple. Holly was now staring at Simon.

  ‘Is your best friend called Tess, by the way?’ Denise asked Holly.

  ‘Y–es.’

  ‘Good. We’re getting somewhere. Simon here,’ she turned to him, ‘is my husband. These are our sons and Daniel here, is my twin brother.’

  Daniel watched Holly stand paralysed for a few seconds while she absorbed these facts. He saw her look from Simon to the boys, then from Denise and finally to him.

  ‘Oh shit! Sorry. I feel so stupid. We thought you had a twin brother called Den. I’m really sorry, but Tess came crying to me and said she’d overheard you asking someone called Dee Dee to stay the night. When I saw you with a woman I’d never seen, I’m… God, I’m sorry.’

  ‘Is it true? Tess really told you she loved me?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘She actually said that?’

  ‘Yes.’

  Daniel turned to Denise with a wide grin. ‘She loves me.’ He hugged his sister and swung her round in a circle. He turned to Holly, grabbed her shoulders and kissed both her cheeks before standing back. ‘You’re a wonderful, slightly crazy, loyal friend to Tess and I hope that when I find her and tell her I love her too, that I’ll see a lot more of you. Now where is she?’

  ‘Ah!’

  ‘What?’

  ‘She’s left.’

  ‘Gone home?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘I’ll run and get her to come back. I’ll explain.’

  ‘Her parents’ home.’

  Daniel’s grin evaporated. ‘She’s driving back to Cornwall? Now?’ He raked his fingers through his hair. ‘I can’t leave yet because purchasers have asked to see me later. She can’t have gone far. Where’s my mobile?’ he asked no one in particular, as he searched his suit pockets. ‘Damn, it must be in my studio.’